Arjun Suryakant Rawte had always been a man defined by his shadows. As the relentless second in command of ETF his life was a battlefield of justice and vengeance, haunted by the ghosts of his past ,Roshni's brutal murder, the fractured bond with his best friend (Sam) Sameer Rathore, and the endless pursuit of criminals that left little room for light. But then there was Riya Mukherjee, the research specialist and analyst who had stormed into his world like a gentle rain, washing away the grime of his solitude. She was his anchor, his unexpected home in a world that had long felt like a storm.
It was Arjun's birthday, a day he usually ignored, buried under case files and stakeouts. This year, however, Riya had insisted on taking the day off from ETF. "No arguments, Arjun sir ," she had said with that serene dimpled smile that could disarm even his steeliest resolve.
They were at her modest apartment in Mumbai, away from the chaos of the city. Riya had woken early, slipping out to the nearby temple to pray for his well-being. The scent of incense lingered on her skin when she returned, carrying a small prasad packet.
Arjun stirred awake to the aroma of cutting chai strong, spiced, just the way he liked it. He opened his eyes to find Riya perched on the edge of the bed, holding a steaming cup.
Her hair was tied in a loose bun, a few strands framing her face, that enhanced her beauty and she wore a green anarkali suit that made her look effortlessly radiant and she looked divine like a goddess .
"Happy birthday, Arjun," she whispered, her voice soft like a melody he never tired of hearing.
He sat up, rubbing his eyes, a rare smile tugging at his lips. "You didn't have to do this", Riya.
"But I wanted to." She handed him the chai, followed by a tray of breakfast poached eggs, toast, and fresh fruits arranged meticulously.
As he ate, she unveiled her gifts, a crisp white shirt that matched his formal style, a leather wallet engraved with his initials, and a sleek watch that ticked with quiet precision. "For the man who has everything except time for himself," she teased followed by a musical laugh.
Arjun pulled her into a bear hug, his arms wrapping around her waist. "You're my gift", Riya, the biggest blessing God ever bestowed on me.
The morning melted into afternoon as Riya busied herself in the kitchen, preparing a wholesome lunch of Arjun's favorites, butter chicken, jeera rice, Rabdi ghevar, puran poli, aloo gobi, and raita.
She had changed into a vibrant red saree, silk draping elegantly over her frame, a bindi on her forehead, and minimal jewelry that accentuated her natural grace. The waist chain around her slim waist and the mole near her belly button made his sanity flew out of the window. His self control is hanging loosely by a single thread.
Arjun leaned against the kitchen door, watching her with a mix of awe and longing.
She moved with fluid precision, chopping vegetables, stirring the curry, her pallu tucked at her waist. The sizzle of spices filled the air, mingling with the soft hum of "Abhi na jao chod kar, ye dil abhi bhara nahi", a retro classic tune she likes to sing always.
He couldn't resist. Stepping forward, he perched on the kitchen slab, his eyes tracing her every move. "You look ethereal," he murmured in his husky voice.
Riya glanced up , red hue spread on her cheeks and neck, blushing under his intense gaze.
"Stop staring, Arjun". You'll make me burn the food.
But he didn't stop. Instead, he reflected on his life, an orphan who had never known the warmth of a family kitchen, someone waiting for you at home after a long day, birthdays forgotten in the haze of survival. After Roshni's death and the fallout with Rathore, he had built walls so high that happiness seemed a distant myth.
Yet here was Riya, his Riya, turning her home into his sanctuary. She was his peace, calm to his storm, brightest light in his dark life, her dimpled smile erasing the stress lines on his forehead, her touch a balm to his battered scarred broken soul. He couldn't understand how come she loves him so much selflessly without any expectations in return.
Unable to hold back, Arjun slid off the slab and approached her from behind. His arms encircled her waist, pulling her close in a back hug. His hands playing with the white beads of waist chain and caressing the mole near her navel.
He buried his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent, vanila strawberry mixed with sandal wood. His lips brushed the soft spot where a tiny mole marked the junction of her slender swan neck and shoulder, sending a shiver down her spine.
"Arjun...." she whispered, turning in his embrace. Her hands cupped his face, thumbs tracing his jawline. She leaned in, pressing a tender kiss to his forehead with all the love she has for him, then ruffled his hair affectionately. "I love you. More than words can say."
The lunch was a feast of flavors and stolen glances. As they ate, Arjun opened up about his past a rarity for him. "I never thought I would have this again in my life ," he admitted, gesturing to the table. "A home cooked meal, someone who cares enough to make it special.
Riya reached for his hand. "You're my home Arjun".
The afternoon sun dipped low, casting a golden hue over the city. Riya suggested a drive to the outskirts, to a small village temple she'd visited as a child. Arjun agreed, though his cop instincts never fully relaxed.
They arrived at the quaint mandir, its bells chiming softly in the breeze. Riya, still in her saree, led him inside, her hand in his. They offered prayers together, her head bowed in devotion, his eyes occasionally scanning the surroundings.
As they exited, a local festival was underway in the village square. Music blared from speakers upbeat folk tunes. Villagers danced in circles, colorful skirts swirling. Riya's eyes lit up. "Come on, Arjun! Let's dance."
He hesitated, his stoic demeanor clashing with the festive chaos. I'm not much of a dancer, Riya. But she pulled him in anyway, her laughter infectious. They joined the circle, her saree fluttering as she moved gracefully.
Arjun, awkward at first, soon found his rhythm, his hands on her waist, guiding her in spins. Their eyes locked, the world fading away. It was a moment of pure joy, unburdened by cases or criminals.
Suddenly, a shadow crossed Arjun's mind a flashback to Rathore. Years ago, during a similar festival stakeout, he and Sameer had shared a rare light moment, dancing undercover to blend in. But that friendship had shattered over misunderstandings, leaving Arjun isolated. Now, with Riya, he felt a flicker of healing. "Rathore would have loved this," he thought, but pushed it aside, focusing on the woman in his arms.
The dance ended with applause, but trouble lurked. As they walked back, the mukhiya's son ,a burly man with a leering grin approached Riya. "Beautiful lady, care for another dance?" He grabbed her hand boldly, his grip tight.
Arjun's protective instincts flared. In a flash, he stepped between them, his voice a low growl. "Let go of her now".
But Before he could do anything, Riya twisted the hand of mukhiya's son and broke it completely.
"Aurat ki kaabiliyat par kabhi shak nahi karni chahiye, samjhe ya samjaun" .
They returned to Mumbai as evening fell, the drive silent but comfortable. Back at her apartment, Riya made coffee for them.
They sat on the balcony, overlooking the twinkling city lights. "Today felt like a dream," she said, leaning on his shoulder, her hands entwining around his arms, playing with his fingers absentmindedly.
Arjun nodded, his fingers interlacing with hers. "For me too. After so long, I feel, I'm at home.
The next day, back at ETF, a new case hit a smuggling ring in the village they had visited. Clues pointed to the mukhiya's son. Arjun's jaw tightened. This isn't coincidence. Riya analyzed with her expertise in depth.
The evidence links him to the operation. But we need more. As the team geared up,
Arjun pulled Riya aside. "Stay safe. I can't lose you." She smiled.
"We're in this together, Arjun sir.
The raid was intense. Arjun led the charge, bursting into the mukhiya's hideout. Gunfire echoed, but his training prevailed. He cornered the son, who sneered, "You think you're a hero? Arjun's punch silenced him. The operation succeeded, arrests made. In the aftermath, as adrenaline faded, Arjun found Riya waiting. She bandaged a minor cut on his arm, her touch gentle."You were amazing," she said. He kissed her then, deep and passionate, pouring out the emotions he had long suppressed.
Weeks passed, their relationship deepening with cute fights, mundane works, deep conversations, grocery shoppings, coffee dates, ice cream dates, projector movie dates on terrace her terrace, walking on beach holding each other's hands while enjoying coffee.
One evening, Riya cooked again this time as per Arjun's request. He watched from the slab, reminiscing. "Remember my birthday?
He kissed her dimpled cheeks making a pop sound.
He wiped the flour off from her cheeks and pulled her into another back hug. "You're my everything, Riya. My home.
A high-profile case involving a terrorist cell tested them. Arjun went undercover, Please be careful, she whispered to herself.
The mission climaxed in a shootout. Arjun was badly injured and was in coma for 3 days.
He woke up and he saw the two most important people of his life. His Sam and Riya.
In the hospital, she held his hand. "Don't scare me like that".
"Promise." His eyes softened. "Marry me, Riya." Tears welled in her eyes. "Yes."
They got married in a temple following fusion of both marati and bengali traditions. Riya in a nauvari saree, Arjun in sherwani.
For Arjun, Riya looked like a celestial bride descended from heaven to shower his life with ocean full of love.
ARiya danced in each other's arms at their reception.
In their new home, ARiya cooked their first meal as husband and wife. Arjun back-hugged her, placed his chin on her shoulder, swaying both of them playing with the beads of her mangalsutra, kissing her neck. "Thank you for making me the happiest man alive Mrs.Rawte".
She turned, dimples flashing. " You're welcome my dearest husband".
Years later, they become parents to twins a boy and a girl, "Agniv Riya Rawte", Ira Arjun Rawte ".
Ira with Riya's dimpled smile and Arjun's onyx eyes, and Agniv with Riya's hazel eyes and Arjun's traits.
They looked back on that birthday as the start. Arjun, once a lone wolf, had found his mate, his home, his person, his wife who made him a complete person and gave two lifelines.
Some quotes which reminds me of ARiya :
"There isn't a place far away enough that Riya could travel to, whether it be a different country or a different universe, that could free Arjun Rawte from being desperately in love with her'.
"We fight. we fix. we stay, because fights are temporary, but our bond is forever".
All readers can relate to this :
"Being a reader means voluntarily signing up for fictional heartbreak and then recommending the pain to others".
I always think about this:
When I learned that of the four elements, air, water and earth can all be polluted "except fire" , fire cannot be polluted, I sorta took that to heart. Fire reminds me of Dynamic Angry young man ACP Arjun Suryakant Rawte.
"The sexiest thing a man do is be The Arjun Rawte to his Riya Mukherjee ".
Fan Fictions
Jodha Akbar
Mangal Lakshmi
Tu Juliet Jatt Di
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
2.5k